Canon 5

Refraining from Inappropriate Political Activity

(1) A judge or judicial candidate shall not make statements that indicate an opinion on
any issue that may be subject to judicial interpretation by the office which is being
sought or held, except that discussion of an individual's judicial philosophy is
appropriate if conducted in a manner which does not suggest to a reasonable person a
probable decision on any particular case.

(2) A judge or judical candidate shall not:

(i) make pledges or promises of conduct in office regarding judicial duties other than
the faithful and impartial performance of the duties of the office, but may state a
position regarding the conduct of administrative duties;

(ii) knowingly or recklessly misrepresent the identity, qualifications, present
position, or other fact concerning the candidate or an opponent.

(3) A judge or judicial candidate shall not authorize the public use of his or her name
endorsing another candidate for any public office, except that either may indicate support
for a political party. A judge or judicial candidate may attend political events and
express his or her views on political mattes in accord with this Canon and Canon 3(B)(10).

*Text of paragraph (4) efective January 1, 1999.

(4) A judge shall resign from judicial office upon becoming a candidate in a contested
election for a non-judicial office either in a primary or in a general or in a special
election. A judge may continue to hold judicial office while being a candidate for
election to or serving as a delegate in a state constitutional convention or while being a
candidate for election to any judicial office.